Excavating and elevating apparatus.



No. 649,791. Patnted May I5, i900. F. E. ALLEN.

EXCAVATING AND ELEVTING APPARATUS.

(Application led Nov. 29, 1899.)'

(Nn Model.) y 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

im WM Le No. @49,79I. Patentd may 15, |900.

F. E. ALLEN.

EXCAVATING AND ELEVATING APPARATUS.

(Application led Nov. 29, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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FREDERICK E. ALLEN, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONF- HALF TOFRANK E. Il. GARY, OF SAME PLACE.

EMCVATING AND ELEVATING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 649,791, dated May 15,1900@ Application tiled November 29, 1899. Serial No. 738,672. (Nomodel.)

To all whom, it' 71mg/ concern.'

Be it known that I, FREDERICK E. ALLEN, of Boston, in the county ofSuliolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Excavating and Elevating Apparatus, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide a portable apparatusadapted to be conveniently located ou a pavement or other surfaceadjacent to the spot where the excavation is to be made and to enablethe earth to be conveniently removed and elevated to a con venientposition for release into a cart.

The invention consists in the improvements `which l will now proceed todescribe and claim.

Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,Figure l represents a perspective view of an excavating and elevatingapparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a top plan view ofthe same, showing the scoop or scraper elevated to its dumping position.Fig. 3 represents a longitudinal central section through Fig. 2. Fig. flrepresents a top view of a portion of the apparatus, showing the scraperat the lower end and outside of the inclined guiding-body.

The same letters and numerals of reference indicate the same parts inall of the figures.

My improved excavating and elevating apparatus comprises an inclinedbody, at the upper end of which is a receptacle a, the said body, ashere shown, being composed of an inclined bottom a and parallel inclinedfianged guides ft2 a2 at opposite edges of the bottom, the said guidesextending from the lower end of the body to the upper end or" thereceptacle.

b represents a slide which is grooved at its ends to engage the guidesa2 and is adapted to move on said guides, and thus travel up and downthe incline. Heans are provided for locking the slide to the body whenat the lower end of its movement, as shown in Fig. Il, said means, ashere shown, comprising a locking-dog c, pivoted at c2 to the body andnormally held by a spring c' in position to engage a face or shoulder onthe slide and pre vent upward movement of the slide.

A tripping-arm d is pivoted at cl to the slide and is arranged to bemoved by the bail of the scraper or scoop hereinafter described, thetripping-arm when so moved displacing the locking-dog and releasing theslide, so that it is free to move upwardly along the guides. To theslide is loosely jointed a snatch-blocl c by means of an eye e on thcblock and an ear or staple e2 on the slide. The pulley e3 of thesnatclrblock guides a rope j', which extends from the drum of ahoisting-engine or other power device around guide-pulleys g g', mountedin fixed bearings at the upper end of the inclined body.

7L represents a scoop or scraper having a bail h', which is ailixed tothe lower extremity of the rope j' and is formed to slide on theinclined bottom a' between the guides a2 a2. Then the inclined body d isanchored or confined in suitable proximity to the area from which earthis to be excavatedfor example, by stakes t' driven into the ground, asshown in Fig. l-the scraper may be drawn from various points in saidarea toward the lower end of the inclined body by means of the rope f,the snatch-block e by its loose connection with the slide permitting therope to assume various angles with the guides a2 when pulling thescraper toward said guides, the lockingdog c at this time holding theslide and snatch-block, so that they cannot move upwardly on the guides.When the scraper reaches the lower end of the body, it enters the spacebetween the guides, (the lower ends of the latter being preferablysomewhat flaring, as shown in Figs. 2 and al, to guide the scraper intosaid spaee,) and the bail strikes the tripper d and forces it laterally,thus forcing the dog c out of engagement with the slide, so that whenthe scraper enters the inclined body the slide is released and moveswith the scraper along the inclined body.

Means are provided for automatically tipping the scraper to the positionshown in Fig. when it reaches the receptacle a, said means being asfollows: v

On the forward portion of the slide l) are forwardly-projecting ears orhooks jj.

7c are arms pivoted at k' to the inclined body and having rolls k2 attheir swinging ends. Said arms normally stand inthe position shown inFig. 1, the rolls k2 projecting inwardly over and in close proximity tothe upper edges of the guides d2.

k3 is a bail which is pivoted to ears 7a4 on the arms k, the cross-barof said bail extending across the space between the guides d2 a2 andbeing normally in position to engage the hooksjj on the slide. On thesides of the scraper h are formed outwardly-projecting flanges fm fm,which when the scraper approaches the upper end of its movement projectover and are in close proximity to the rolls 7a2, the latter being thenin the position shown in Fig. 1. The flanges m m reach the position lastdescribed just before the hooks jj on the slide engage the bail 7c3. Theengagement of said hooks with the bail k3 causes the continued upwardmovement of the slide to exert an upward pull on the arms 7c 7c throughthe bail 7c3, thus swinging said arms upwardly, as shown in Fig. 3, andcausing the rolls k2 to engage the flanges m m, and thus tip the scraperupwardly, as shown in Fig. 3, the contents of the scraper being thusdumped into the receptacle d. At this point the upward movement of theslide and scraperl the inclined body either by gravitation or by apositive backward pull exerted by a rope f', connected with the rear endof the scraper, the said rope f being connected with a drum of thehoisting-engine adapted to exert a pull v thereon in the desireddirection.

Owing to the fact that the flanges m project outwardly from the upperportions of the sides of the scraper, the said scraper is steadied whenelevated or tilted by the arms 7c, owing .l to the fact that the saidarms 7c are in contact with the sides of the scraperthroughoutsubstantially their entire vertical height.

It may be here noted that the ropes f and f may be arranged as shown inFig. 1, in

conjunction with a suitable system of pulleys, it being supposed thatthe broken ends of the ropes ff (shown at the right of Fig. 1) extend todrums of a hoisting-engine. (Not shown.) At n n are guiding-pulleysmounted in a yoke which is anchored by means of a stake o, the rope fpassing from this yoke around a loose pulley n', connected with thelower end of the inclined body, and from this loose pulley to theguide-pulley g at the upper portion of the said body. The rope f extendsaround the pulleys p19', which are secured to yokes q q', clamped to anendless rope r, which is supported by pulley-blocks s s, connected tostakes t t. The endless rope fr enables the blocks q q' to be adjustedso as to vary the starting-point of the scraper from time to time as thework may require. The said blocks q q may be held at any desiredadjustment by means of ropes u u', one attached to the block q and theother to a clamp u2, attached to the end of the rope r. The

said ropes u and u may be made fast to the staket or other fixed supportand prevent the movement of the endless rope lrin either direction. Aswill be seen by reference to Figs. 1 and 2, the guide-pulleys g g andthe loose guide-pulley n are duplicated at each side of the body, sothat the hoisting-engine may be at either side of the apparatus.

It will be seen that by the described apparatus an excavation ofconsiderable depth and length may be made in the earth, the materialexcavated being elevated and dumped into the receptacle a, which is ofsufficient height to enable a cart to be located underit and receive thematerial from it, the lower portion of the receptacle a being providedwith an outlet closed by a trap or gate @,which is closed and releasedby means presently described.

rlhe inclined body may be supported by any suitable means, the preferredmeans being the forward and rear trucks w w, each of said truckscomprising an axle 2 and wheels 3 3. The axle of the forward truck maybe fitted with a suitable draft appliance, so that horses may beconnected thereto, and is connected with the inclined body by means ofan elongatedinclined frame 4, the lower portion of which is connectedwith the axle of the forward truck by a suitable king-bolt 5. The axleof the rear truck preferably has a swinging connection with the inclinedbody, said connection enabling the axle to be swung or adjustedrelatively to the inclined body, thus permitting the lower end of thebody to be depressed in Contact with and close proxiinity to the groundwhen the apparatus isin use and raised sufliciently from the ground topermit transportation. The axle 2 of the rear truck is here shown asprovided with upwardly-projecting standards G 6, rigidly attached to theaxle and jointed, by means of a pivoted rod 7,todownwardly-projcetingears 8 8, affixed to the body.

9 9 represent shafts extending across the body and journaled in earsaffixed thereto.

10 10 represent chains extending from one of said shafts to the rearaxle 2, and 12 12 represent chains extending from the other shaft to thesaid axle. It will be seen that by winding up the chains l0 andunwinding the chains 12 the rear axle 2 will be moved sidewiserelatively to the body, or it may be said that the body will be movedendwise relatively to the axle, the movementbeing such as to depress therear end of the body and bringits bottom into contact with the ground,as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, so that the scraper can readily enter thelower portion of the body. When it is desired to transport theapparatus, the chains 12 are wound up and the chains 10 slackened, thisoperation raising the rear end of the body from contact with the groundsufficiently to permit trans- `portation.

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of said shafts, each shaft being provided with a ratchet 1S and alocking-dog 19 to prevent its rotation when desired.

The means which l have shown lfor opening and closing the door U of thereceptacle (L are as follows: 13 represents a shaft journaled in thesupporting-frame 4, and 14 1l represent flexible connections, such asropes or chains, extending from drn ms on the shaft 1S overguide-pulleys 15 15 to ears on the door fn. lVhen the shaft 13 isrotated to loosen the cords, the door swings open, as indicated bydotted lines in Fig. 3, and when the shaft is rot-ated in the oppositedirection the cords pull the door to its closed position. The shaft 1.3may have a squared end adapted to engage a crank, wherebyit may berotated. A ratchet 16 and pawl 17 hold the shaft against rotation whenthe door is closed.

I do not limit myself to the details of mechanism herein shown anddescribed and may variously modify the same without departing `from thespirit and scope of my invention.

It will be observed that the space between the trucks and under theinclined body may7 be utilized to receive a screen y, which may beplaced in position to sift the material discharged from the receptacled.

I claim- 1. An apparatus of the character specified, comprising aninclined body having a receptacle at its upper end, a snatch-blockadapted to move lengthwise of said body, a draftrope guided at the upperportion of said body and by the said snatch-block, a scraper adapted tomove on said body, means for locking the snatch-block to the lowerportion of the body, and means operated by the scraper in approachingthe snatch-block for releasing the latter and permitting the block andscraper to move together to the receptacle.

2. An apparatus of the character specified, comprising an inclined bodyhaving a receptacle at its upper end, a slide adapted to move lengthwiseof the body, a snatch-block connected loosely with the slide, adraft-rope guided at the upper portion of the body and by thesnatch-block, a scraper adapted to move on said body, means for lockingthe slide to the lower portion of the body, and means operated by thescraper in approaching the snatch-block for releasing the slide.

b. An apparatus of the character specified, comprising an inclined bodyhaving a receptacle at its upper end, aslide adapted to move lengthwiseof the body, a snatch-block connected loosely with the slide, adraft-rope guided at the upper portion of the body and by thesnatch-block, a scraper adapted to move on said body, means for lockingthe slide to the lower portion of the body, a locking-dog on the bodyadapted to engage the slide when the latter is at the lower end of itsmovement, and a tripping device on the slide adapted to be moved by theapproaching scraper to displace the locking-dog.

4f. An apparatus of the character specified,

comprising an inclined body having a receptacle at its upper end andguides extending from the lower portion of the body to said receptacle,a scraper movable on said guides, means for moving the scraper towardthe receptacle levers for engaging said scraper to raise its rear end,and means for operating said levers by the movement of the scrapertoward the receptacle.

5. An apparatus of the character specified, comprising an inclined bodyhaving a receptacle at its upper end, and guides extending from thelower portion of the body to said receptaele, a slide movable on saidguides and provided with a draft-rope guide, a draftrope running on saidguide, a scraper movable with the slide and attached to the draft--rope, and scraper-dumping mechanism comprising coacting parts or membersmounted respectively on the body, the slide and the scraper, andoperated by the movement ot' the scraper toward the receptacle.

0. An apparatus of the character specified, comprising an inclined bodyhaving a receptacle at its upper end, and guides extending from thelower portion of the body to said rcceptacle, a slide movable on saidguides and provided with a d raft-rope guide, a draft-rope running onsaid guide, a scraper movable with the slide and attached to thedraft-rope, said scraper having flanges, arms pivoted to the body andhaving rolls or projections adapted to engage said iianges, and meansoperated by the upward movement of the slide for raising said arms andtipping the scraper.

7. An apparatus of the eharacterspecified, comprising an inclined bodyhaving a receptacle at its upper end, and guides extending from thelower portion of the body to said receptacle, a slide movable on saidguides and provided with a draft-rope guide, a draft-rope ruiming onsaid guide, a scraper movable with the slide and attached to thedraft-rope, said scraper having flanges, arms pivoted to the body andhaving rolls or projections adapted to engage said lan ges, a bailpivotcd to said arms and extending across the path of the slide, andprojections on the slide arranged to engage said bail and exert alifting pull on the arms through the bail.

8. A scraper having ontWardly-projecting flanges on the upper portionsof its sides adapted to be engaged by dumping-arms.

9. An apparatus of the character specified, comprising an inclinedportable body having a receptacle at its upper portion, means forguiding a scraper toward and from the said receptacle, a draft-ropeguide located on the body, and a draft-rope guide such as c having asliding connection with the body, and movable toward and from thereceptacle.

10. An apparatus of the charaeterspeeified, comprising au inclinedportable body having a receptacle at its upper portion, means forguiding the scraper toward and from the said receptacle, a draft-ropeguide located on the IOC:

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body, a draft-rope guide such as e having a sliding connection with thebody and movable toward and from the receptacle, a draftrope engagedwith said guides, a scraper connected with the draft-rope, a return-ropeconnected with the scraper,and adjustable means for guiding thereturn-rope.

11. A-n apparatus of the character specified, comprising an inclinedportable body having a receptacle at its upper portion, means forguiding a scraper toward and from the said receptacle, a draft-ropeguide located on the body, and draft-rope guide such as e having asliding connection with the body, and movable toward and from thereceptacle, a draftrope engaged with said guides, a scraper connectedwith the draft-rope, a return-rope connected With the scraper, guidesfn, q, and q for the draft and return ropes, and means for adjusting thereturn-rope guides q q'.

12. An apparatus of the character specified, comprising an inclined bodyhaving a receptacle atits upperportion, and means for guiding a scrapertoward and from the said receptacle, and supports for said body, thesupports and body being arranged to provide a cart-receiving space underthe body and receptacle, the said receptacle having an inclined bottomwith an outlet at its lower end and a door or gate for said outlet andmeans for opening and closing said door or gate.

13. An apparatus of the character specified, comprising an inclined bodyhaving a receptacle at its upper portion, and means for guiding ascraper toward and from the said receptacle, an elongated support forthe forward portion of the body, a truck connected with said support, atruck supporting the rear portion of the body, and wheels on the axlesof said trucks, said trucks, support, and body being permanentlyconnected for transportation on the wheels of the truck, and arranged toprovide a cart-receiving space between the trucks and vunder the body.

14. An apparatus of the characterspecied,

tacle at its upper portion, and means for guiding a scraper toward andfrom the said receptacle,an elongated support for the forward portion ofthe body, a truck connected with said support, a rear truck supportingthe rear portion of the body, upwardly-projecting 'standards on the axleof the rear truck, jointed above the axle to the body, whereby the saidaxle may be swung sidewise to vary the height of the rear end, shaftsjournaled on the body at opposite sides of the said axle, and flexibleconnections between the said shafts and axle. r

16. An apparatus of the character specified, comprising an inclined bodyhaving a receptacle at its upper portion, and means for guiding ascraper toward and from the said receptacle, said receptacle having anoutlet and a door or gate therefor, an elongated support for the forwardportion of the body, a truck connected with said support, door openingand closing devices comprising a shaft journaled in the frame, ropesextending from the shaft to the door, and guides for said ropes, and atruck supporting the rear portion of the body.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of twoWitnesses.

FREDERICK E. ALLEN.

Vitnesses:

C. F. BROWN, A. D. HARRISON.

